Mom's Meatballs

Cooked rice and bread crumbs bulk up the meatballs (albondigas) that chef Margarita Challenger grew up with. She serves them with Mexican rice at Guanajuanto in Glencoe.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

1 pound ground beef

½ cup cooked white rice

½ cup bread crumbs

Salt and pepper

2 eggs

2 cloves garlic, minced, divided

8 medium Roma tomatoes

1 small onion, diced

1½ cups water

2 teaspoons olive oil

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, rice, bread crumbs, white rice, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and half the minced garlic minced. Work in the eggs until well combined and then roll meatballs to desired size.

In another bowl, blend the tomatoes with onion and the rest of the minced garlic. Add 1½ cups of water to help blend.

In a deep pan add olive oil. Add the tomato mix to the oil and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower to a medium heat and add the meatballs. Cook for about 30 minutes until meatballs are puffy and soft. Add salt and pepper to your liking.